THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
system, the six receiving the highest num
ber of votes being the candidates. These
six names are then coupled in three pairs,
the arrangement being amicably made by
the candidates.
A CHILD CHOOSES THE REGENTS
The cortege then issues from the pal
ace-the regents, in their medieval state
costumes, accompanied by attendants in
livery bearing torches. Up the steep
street to the near-by cathedral, the cor
tege goes. At the door of the church the
regents are met by the archpriest, who
awaits them with holy water and blesses
them.
The religious element of primitive times
in San Marino's government is evidenced
in all the modern ceremonies. The re
gents take their posts of honor on the
canopied throne beside the high altar.
Guards, carabinieri, the entire cortege,
stand at attention in the long nave. The
archpriest offers a prayer to San Marino;
then he reads the six names and puts the
three couplets in three little silver balls.
They are placed in a silver urn, shaken
about, and a child is called to draw out
one of them. The little one holds it up
before the breathless congregation. It
is then given to the regents, who open it
and read the names. They in turn go to
the high altar and give the paper to the
priest, who reads aloud the names of the
new heads of the government. Instantly,
the band sounds the national hymn and
the cortege with flaming torches winds its
way back to the palace. The newly
elected regents are officially notified with
medieval ceremony.
THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY
The inauguration is the big event of the
Republic, when the tradespeople, a num
ber of whom are souvenir-sellers, look
forward to their chief profits from vis
itors. The simplicity of life here is such
that 20 or 25 strangers are regarded as a
great invasion, and the whole community
is agog.
The important occasion is announced
the night before by the ringing of the
fortress bell. On the morning of the in
auguration a series of parades begins.
The noble guards, resplendent in be
plumed hats and gold-braided uniforms,
preceded by the band, first march to the
homes of the regents to escort them to
the palace in Via Giosue Carducci, where
they clothe themselves in the state gar
ments.
At ten the gorgeous procession moves
through the narrow streets to the govern
ment palace. The regents having entered,
the populace, with all the cortege, stands
at attention for the moment when the
flag is unfurled from an upper balcony.
As the banner, blue and white, with the
coat of arms of the Republic-the three
plumed towers, encircled in a laurel and
oak wreath tied with a ribbon bearing
the motto "Libertas"-is raised, the band
strikes up the national hymn, a quaint,
unmartial air, founded on an ancient
theme of Guido Monaco.
The spectacular moment which the
populace awaits is when the regents leave
the palace to attend mass in the church
where lie the relics of the Republic's
saintly founder. Following mass, at
which the regents assist in their official
posts beside the altar, the retiring regents
on the canopied throne, the new ones in
a simple pew, the cortege goes back to
the palace, where the inauguration cere
mony takes place.
An address by a former regent is al
ways delivered. Then the new regents
take the oath of office and the old ones,
removing their insignia of power, place
them upon the future heads of govern
ment, bestowing upon them the seals and
the keys of State. The ex-regents step
down from their seats of authority and
the new ones take their place. Then the
ceremony is over and the cortege accom
panies the regents to their homes.
The whole day, however, is one of
gaiety. The band serenades the regents,
who in turn receive the townspeople.
From all the hamlets of the Republic
people crowd to the capital. It is a con
stantly changing picture of life which
seems far removed from the world of
today.
THE FITE OF SAINT MARINO
The spirit of primitive times, developed
into picturesque customs during the mid
dle ages, casts its spell over the Republic
on its day of veneration and rejoicing,
September 3, the fete of Saint Marino.
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